The upcoming season is shaping up to be an exciting one for Luka Doncic. After responding to the criticism and scrutiny by focusing on his conditioning, Doncic is out to prove the naysayers wrong.
Among the many fans and media personalities who expect Doncic to have a tremendous 2025-26 season, an anonymous NBA scout shared their predictions with DallasHoopsJournal.com recently. They said:
“Man, he looks incredible. He’s quicker and more explosive. He’s getting by people more easily. I think he’s on a mission, man. I think he’s gonna win MVP and the scoring title next season. He wants to get revenge on Dallas for basically fat-shaming him.”
The upcoming campaign has been painted as a revenge season for Doncic by many. After the Dallas Mavericks opted to trade the Slovenian, internal rumors suggested that the Mavs didn’t believe that he could lead the team to a championship, primarily owing to his lack of discipline and conditioning.
While Doncic had sustained several injuries during his tenure with the Mavs, he still managed to take them to the NBA Finals, a testament to his abilities. In light of this accomplishment, it is evident why he would feel insulted by such comments.
The noise out of Dallas was just a fraction of the backlash Doncic received last season. After a brutal first-round exit in the playoffs, the scrutiny was only amplified.
In this regard, the 26-year-old’s response has been positively met with excitement by the Los Angeles Lakers organization as well as the fan base. Having undergone a drastic transformation during the offseason, Doncic appears to be in the best shape of his career, primed to be a dominant force in the league.
Considering the motivation behind his actions, it is quite likely for the Lakers’ superstar to find himself in the MVP discussion next season, potentially even contending for the scoring title.
Last season, in just 50 appearances, the guard recorded an average of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game. When considering his overall productivity on the offensive end of the floor, he is quite capable of winning the scoring title.
The MVP race may prove to be trickier, primarily due to the subjective parameters for selection. Going up against the reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Lakers superstar will be required to put up an inspiring performance to dethrone him.
As enticing as the individual accolades are, it is also clear that Doncic and the Purple and Gold will have their sights set on the NBA title. Having made the necessary additions to their roster to improve their chances, the Lakers will look to their superstar duo of Doncic and James to lead them to the promised land.
